▪ I. pinking, vbl. n.1
(ˈpɪŋkɪŋ)
[f. pink v.1 + -ing1.]
a. The action of pink v.1; the operation of decorating cloth, leather, etc., with holes, or (later) scalloped edges; concr. work so treated.
| 1503 [see pink v.1 3]. 1611 Cotgr., Deschiquetement,..a iagging,..a pinking, or small, and thicke cutting. 1666 Pepys Diary 17 Oct., The King says the pinking upon whites makes them look too much like magpyes, and therefore hath bespoke one [vest] of plain velvet. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 350/1 The Pinking of a Shooe, when the grain of the Leather is raised by a sharp pointed Tool, that the inner part is seen. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. iv, These rufflings, and pinkings, and patchings, will only make us hated by all the wives of our neighbours. 1860 Fairholt Costume in Eng. (ed. 2) Gloss., Pinking, an ornamental edging cut to silk dresses by a machine that makes a semi⁓circular jagged indent, something after the fashion of the ancient leaf-borders. 1883 Daily News 22 Sept. 3/3 The mode of finishing the edges..known as ‘pinking-out’, continues to be followed. 1884 Girl's Own Mag. 29 Mar. 409/1 Undertakers are the people who advertise to perform pinking. |
b. Comb., as pinking machine, pinking scissors, pinking shears; pinking-iron, a sharp instrument for cutting out pinked borders; also humorously, a sword.
| 1761 in E. Singleton Social N.Y. under Georges (1902) 242 [I] have ever since been so scrupulous an observer of it [sc. taste] that I never was the mark of a pinking-iron behind it. |
| 1780 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 227/2 The lightning had perforated a round hole in the lower part of his wig behind, which..looked as if it had been cut with a pinking iron. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Pinking-iron, a cutting instrument for scolloping the edges of ribbons, flounces, paper for coffin trimmings, &c. 1884 Girl's Own Mag. 29 Mar. 409/1 The shape of the pinking-irons used are more elaborate than they formerly were. |
| a 1865 Mrs. Gaskell Lett. (1966) 816 Dear Miss Watkins, Thank you very much for the use of the Pinking Machine. |
| 1951 Catal. of Exhibits, South Bank Exhib., Festival of Britain 60/1 Pinking scissors. 1979 E. Taylor in I. Webb Compl. Guide Flower & Foliage Arrangem. viii. 103/1 Pinking scissors will avoid having to hem the edges. |
| 1962 House & Garden Dec. 55/2 Pair of pinking shears. 1976 Evening Post (Nottingham) 15 Dec. 21 (Advt.), Dress-making scissors, pinking shears, nail scissors, [etc.]. |
▪ II. pinking, vbl. n.2 Obs. or dial.
(ˈpɪŋkɪŋ)
[f. pink v.2 + -ing1.]
The action of pink v.2
| 1667 Dryden Sir M. Mar-all iv. i, Leave off your winking and your pinking. |
▪ III. pinking, vbl. n.3
(ˈpɪŋkɪŋ)
[f. pink v.3 + -ing1.]
(The production of) a metallic rattling sound in an internal-combustion engine as a result of the too rapid combustion of the mixture in the cylinder.
| 1913 Rogers & Watson Motor Mechanics' Hand-bk. i. 9 If the compression exceed 90 lb., there is great danger of frequent pre-ignition, and consequent knocking or ‘pinking’ in the cylinders. 1930 Flight 11 July 787 A further change was made to a poor grade spirit, and the symptoms of pinking combined with loss of efficiency were much exaggerated. 1937 [see detonation 1 b]. 1959 Motor 19 Aug. 6/2 Full throttle was avoided to prevent pinking. 1968 [see detonation 1 b]. 1970 M. Smith Aviation Fuels vii. 35 High pressure waves..strike the walls of the combustion chamber with a hammer-like blow, producing a knocking noise. The high pitched, metallic sound known as ‘pinking’ is due to the vibratory nature of those waves. 1973 Times 19 Apr. 35/1 Lead..is added to petrol to raise octane ratings and prevent ‘pinking’. |
▪ IV. pinking, ppl. a.1
(ˈpɪŋkɪŋ)
[f. pink v.1 + -ing2.]
That pinks; stabbing, murderous.
| 1644 Laud Wks. (1854) IV. 343 His fellow, Wadsworth,..called him pinking knave. |
▪ V. pinking, ppl. a.2 Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈpɪŋkɪŋ)
[f. pink v.2 + -ing2.]
Of the eye: That pinks; small, narrow; peering; blinking.
| 1566 Drant Horace, Sat. iii. B iv b, The sonne he squynts, the father saythe he hath a pincking eye. 1597 Lowe Chirurg. (1634) 145 The littlenes of the Eye called Atrophia or Macies oculi commeth by nature, and is called the pigs Eye, or pincking-Eye. 1601 Holland Pliny xi. xxxvii. I. 334 Some have great glaring eies; others againe as little and as pinking. a 1722 S. Centlivre Love at Venture iv, Those pinking ogles of thine. 1826 Ass 1 Apr. 2 You there with the pinking eyes and the fish-knife nose. |